Isolation has permanent effects upon the behavior of the rat, but not the mouse, gerbil, or guinea pig

Abstract

In the rat isolation has both short- and long-term influences upon behavior. Rats isolated at any age will show increases in timidity and aggression, but both effects can be reversed by periods of social housing. However, isolation before 50 days of age has permanent effects upon behavior. We have previously found that rats between 25 and 45 days of age may be protected from the deleterious effects of isolation by short daily periods of social contact if, during these daily contact periods, the rats engage in intense bouts of rough-and-tumble play. In this study we examined the permanence of the effects of isolation on the rat, mouse, guinea pig and gerbil. As predicted by the play hypothesis, species which do not engage in extensive social play do not show permanent deficits if isolated prior to 50 days. Only rats which engage in long bouts of rough-and-tumble play between 20 and 50 days show any permanent behavioral effects of isolation during this period.

Species differences in responses to captivity: stress, welfare and the comparative method

“…To illustrate, stereotypic behavior (Box 1) can help to reveal plasticity in brain development and to identify attributes of natural environments necessary for this to progress normally. This varies between species, but for reasons that have barely been explored since the 1970s [57,58].…”

Social Isolation During Postweaning Development Causes Hypoactivity of Neurons in the Medial Nucleus of the Male Rat Amygdala

“…Social experience during critical developmental periods is required for normal maturation of social behaviors (Einon et al, 1981;Potegal and Einon, 1989;Ikemoto and Panksepp, 1992;Hol et al, 1999;Pellis et al, 1999;van den Berg et al, 1999a, b;Von Frijtag et al, 2002). Rearing of rats in social isolation after weaning leads to a range of abnormal social behaviors including increased aggression, abnormal interactions with novel rodents, abnormal sexual behavior, and impaired social learning (Gerall et al, 1967;Meaney and Stewart, 1981;Hol et al, 1999;van den Berg et al, 1999a;Cooke et al, 2000;Von Frijtag et al, 2002;Melo et al, 2006;Agis-Balboa et al, 2007;Toth et al, 2012;Yusufishaq and Rosenkranz, 2013).…”

Environmental Enrichment Increases Response Strength And Paired-Pulse Depression Of Auditory Cortex Neurons

“…Wheel running is associated with increases in thickness of motor cortex, angiogenesis in both cerebellar and motor cortex, neurogenesis, neurotrophin levels, dopamine, long-term potentiation, and resistance to injury (de Castro and Duncan, 1985;Black et al, 1990;Stummer et al, 1994;Neeper et al, 1996;Swain et al, 2003;Farmer et al, 2004). Group housing significantly increases cortical weight, neurotrophic factor levels, neuronal density, and behavioral recovery after brain injuries, while isolation rearing results in neuroanatomical, neurochemical, physiological, and behavioral abnormalities Einon et al, 1981;Turner and Greenough, 1985;Geyer et al, 1993;Gordon et al, 2003;Preece et al, 2004). Although exercise or social stimulation can generate many of the benefits that accompany general enrichment, it is not known whether they are sufficient to increase response strength and PPD in AC.…”

“…Since exercise and social stimulation can independently generate many of the benefits that accompany general enrichment, we investigated whether these manipulations experienced in isolation are sufficient to increase response strength and paired-pulse depression in auditory cortex Einon et al, 1981;Turner and Greenough, 1985;Black et al, 1990;Geyer et al, 1993;Stummer et al, 1994;Neeper et al, 1996;Gordon et al, 2003;Swain et al, 2003;Farmer et al, 2004;Preece et al, 2004). Whereas rats that could hear the enriched environment exhibited enhanced cortical responses and increased paired-pulse depression similar to rats housed in the enrichment cage, social housing and physical activity had no effect on cortical physiology compared to enrichment.…”